Trifid bur-marigold (Bidens tripartita, Sp. Pl.: 831 (1753))

Family: Asteraceae

Author: L.

Bibliography: Sp. Pl.: 831 (1753)

Year: 1753

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Bidens

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: Temp. Northern Hemisphere

Description

Trifid bur-marigold, scientifically known as Bidens tripartita, is a notable species within the Asteraceae family. This annual herb is widely seen across the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, thriving in a range of wetland habitats including marshes, riverbanks, and moist meadows.

The species is characterized by its distinctive yellow flowers which bloom from late summer into early autumn. Each flower head is composed of both ray and disc florets, showcasing the classic composite arrangement typical of the Asteraceae family. The leaves of Bidens tripartita are three-parted, or trifid, giving rise to its common name. These leaves are richly green, serrated, and somewhat lance-shaped, contributing to the plant’s lush appearance.

One of the defining traits of the Trifid bur-marigold is its seed structure. The seeds, or achenes, are equipped with barbed awns that readily cling to animal fur and clothing. This evolutionary adaptation aids in the plant’s effective dispersal across various locales.

Historically, the study of Bidens tripartita was formalized in Carl Linnaeus’ seminal work “Species Plantarum,” published in 1753. Linnaeus, denoted by the author abbreviation “L.,” provided the first comprehensive description of the species, cementing its place in botanical nomenclature and study.

Trifid bur-marigold serves not only as an important species for ecological biodiversity, contributing to soil stabilization along water bodies, but also possesses a noteworthy cultural and botanical significance. In some regions, it has been used in traditional medicine, although caution is advised due to potential toxicity when misused.

Understanding and appreciating Bidens tripartita within its botanical family, ecological role, and historical context offers valuable insights into the intricate web of plant life that sustains our natural environments.

Common Names

Swe: alpjättevädd, jättevädd, kardvädd, sträv kardvädd, brunskära, tummarusokki
Fra: bident chevelu, bident triparti, bident à trois divisions, bident trifoliolé, bident tripartite, bident à feuilles tripartites, bident à trois arêtes, bident à trois folioles
Deu: dreiteiliger zweizahn
Eng: erect-bur-marigold, marigold-bur, threelobe beggarticks, trifid bur-marigold, water-agrimony, three-parted beggarticks, straw-stemmed beggarticks, swamp beggars’ ticks, three-lobed beggarticks, trifid burr marigold
Nor: fjellknapp, gullknapp, kardeborre, lodnekardeborre, brensle
Dan: fliget brøndsel, gærde-kartebolle, pindsvin-kartebolle, skælhoved
Fin: isokirahvinkukka, pikarikarttaohdake, sukakarttaohdake, tummarusokki
Nno: flikbrønsle
Nob: flikbrønsle
Por: picão
Nld: veerdelig tandzaad
Sme: lastalieđđi, ruškeslieđđi
Cym: graban deir-rhan, graban deiran, graban palfogddail, graban teiran, trydan y dŵr
En: Trifid bur-marigold, Water-agrimony, Marigold-bur, Erect-bur-marigold, Threelobe beggarticks, Three-Lobe Beggarticks, Threelobe beggartick, ЦӀегьрекарч, Three-parted beggarticks, Swamp beggars’ ticks, Straw-stemmed beggarticks, Three-lobed beggarticks, Trifid burr marigold, Bastard Agrimony, Bastard Hemp, Burr Marigold, Water Agrimony, Three-lobe Beggar-ticks, Three-lobed beggar-ticks, Three-part beggarticks, Leafy-bracted beggarticks
Ar: حسيكة ثلاثية الأقسام
Hy: Կատվալեզու եռաբաժակ
Az: Üçbölümlü yatıqqanqal
Ba: Эт тегәнәге
Be: Ваўчкі трохпадзеленыя, Ваўчкі трохраздзельныя
Bg: Бутрак
Ca: Bident tripartit
Zh: 狼把草, 狼杷草
Hr: Trodijelni dvozub
Cs: Dvouzubec trojdílný
Da: Fliget Brøndsel, Gærde-Kartebolle, Pindsvin-Kartebolle, Skælhoved
Nl: Veerdelig tandzaad, Driedelig Tandzaad, Gevleugeld Tandzaad
Et: Kolmisruse
Fi: Tummarusokki, Isokirahvinkukka, Pikarikarttaohdake, Sukakarttaohdake
Fr: Bident trifoliolé, Bident triparti, Bident chevelu, Bident à trois divisions, Bident tripartite, Bident à feuilles tripartites, Bident à trois arêtes, Bident à trois folioles, Chanvre d’eau, Cornuet, Eupatoire aquatique, Bident trifolié
De: Dreiteiliger Zweizahn, Dreiteilige Zweizahn, Sumpfzweizahn
He: דו-שן משולש
Hu: Subás farkasfog
It: Canapa acquatica, Forbicina comune
Ko: 가막사리
Lv: Trejdaivu sunītis
Lt: Triskiautis lakišius
Se: Lastalieđđi, Ruškeslieđđi
No: Flikbrønsle, Fjellknapp, Gullknapp, Kardeborre, Lodnekardeborre, Brensle
Nb: Flikbrønsle
Nn: Flikbrønsle
Pl: Uczep trójlistkowy
Pt: Picão
Ru: Череда трёхраздельная
Sk: Dvojzub trojdielny
Es: Deljenolistni mrkač
Sv: Brunskära, Alpjättevädd, Jättevädd, Kardvädd, Sträv kardvädd, Tummarusokki
Zh-tw: 狼把草
Tg: Гармалаф
Zh-hant: 狼杷草
Uk: Череда трироздільна
Cy: Graban teiran, Graban Deir-Rhan, Graban Deiran, Graban Palfogddail, Trydan y Dŵr

Synonyms

• Bidens trifoliata (Gueldenst. ex Ledeb.)
• Bidens nudiflora (Steud.)
• Bidens cannabina (Lam.)
• Bidens minor ((Wimm. & Grab.) Vorosch.)
• Bidens tripartita subsp. comosa ((A.Gray) A.Haines)
• Bidens hybrida (Thuill.)
• Bidens minuscula (Leveille Vaniot)
• Bidens tripartita var. minor (Hartm.)
• Bidens tripartita var. pumila (Roth)
• Bidens tripartita var. minima (Huds.)
• Bidens acuta (Britton)
• Bidens repens (D.Don)
• Bidens intermedia (Opiz ex Nyman)
• Bidens nodiflora (L.)
• Bidens connata var. comosa (A.Gray)
• Bidens comosa var. acuta (Jeps.)
• Bidens tripartita var. cernuifolia (Sherff)
• Bidens comosa ((A.Gray) Wiegand)
• Bidens orientalis (Velen. ex Bornm.)
• Bidens frondosa (Buch.-Ham. ex Hook.f.)
• Bidens fastigiata (Michalet)
• Bidens tripartita var. shimadae ((Hayata) Yamam.)
• Bidens trifida (Roxb.)
• Bidens tripartita var. hybrida ((Thuill.) Mérat)
• Bidens bullata (L.)
• Bidens shimadae (Hayata)
• Bidens tripartita var. orientalis ((Velen.) Stoj. & Stef.)
• Bidens pumila (Steud.)
• Bidens tripartita subsp. bullata ((L.) Rouy)
• Bidens tripartita var. repens ((D.Don) Sherff)
• Bidens effusa (Thuill. ex Sherff)
• Bidens platycephala (Oerst.)

Distribution

• Afghanistan (native)
• Alabama (native)
• Alaska (native)
• Albania (native)
• Alberta (native)
• Algeria (native)
• Altay (native)
• Amur (native)
• Assam (native)
• Austria (native)
• Baltic States (native)
• Belarus (native)
• Belgium (native)
• British Columbia (native)
• Bulgaria (native)
• Buryatiya (native)
• California (native)
• Central European Rus (native)
• China North-Central (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• Colorado (native)
• Connecticut (native)
• Corse (native)
• Czechoslovakia (native)
• Delaware (native)
• Denmark (native)
• District of Columbia (native)
• East Aegean Is. (native)
• East European Russia (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Finland (native)
• France (native)
• Georgia (native)
• Germany (native)
• Great Britain (native)
• Greece (native)
• Hungary (native)
• Illinois (native)
• Indiana (native)
• Inner Mongolia (native)
• Iowa (native)
• Iran (native)
• Iraq (native)
• Ireland (native)
• Irkutsk (native)
• Italy (native)
• Japan (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Kansas (native)
• Kazakhstan (native)
• Kentucky (native)
• Khabarovsk (native)
• Kirgizstan (native)
• Korea (native)
• Krasnoyarsk (native)
• Krym (native)
• Lebanon-Syria (native)
• Louisiana (native)
• Maine (native)
• Manchuria (native)
• Manitoba (native)
• Maryland (native)
• Masachusettes (native)
• Michigan (native)
• Minnesota (native)
• Mississippi (native)
• Missouri (native)
• Mongolia (native)
• Montana (native)
• Nansei-shoto (native)
• Nebraska (native)
• Nepal (native)
• Netherlands (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• New Hampshire (native)
• New Jersey (native)
• New Mexico (native)
• New York (native)
• North Carolina (native)
• North Caucasus (native)
• North Dakota (native)
• North European Russi (native)
• Northwest European R (native)
• Norway (native)
• Ohio (native)
• Oklahoma (native)
• Oregon (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Palestine (native)
• Pennsylvania (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Poland (native)
• Portugal (native)
• Primorye (native)
• Qinghai (native)
• Québec (native)
• Rhode I. (native)
• Romania (native)
• Sardegna (native)
• Sicilia (native)
• South Carolina (native)
• South Dakota (native)
• South European Russi (native)
• Spain (native)
• Sweden (native)
• Switzerland (native)
• Tadzhikistan (native)
• Taiwan (native)
• Tennessee (native)
• Texas (native)
• Tibet (native)
• Transcaucasus (native)
• Turkey (native)
• Turkey-in-Europe (native)
• Turkmenistan (native)
• Tuva (native)
• Ukraine (native)
• Utah (native)
• Uzbekistan (native)
• Vermont (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Virginia (native)
• Washington (native)
• West Himalaya (native)
• West Siberia (native)
• West Virginia (native)
• Wisconsin (native)
• Wyoming (native)
• Xinjiang (native)
• Yakutskiya (native)
• Yugoslavia (native)
• Kuril Is. (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• Victoria (introduced)

Additional Images

Fruit

Taken Nov 9, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 7, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 7, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 7, 2017 by jose (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 9, 2017 by Pep Secem (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Aug 25, 2019 by Gonny Dieks (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 14, 2017 by axelfavor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 14, 2017 by axelfavor (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 16, 2019 by Antoine josse (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 2, 2019 by Daniel Bourget (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Aug 31, 2022 by Corrie Monster (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 15, 2021 by k.dimitrov d (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 4, 2021 by Lene Larsen (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 29, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 25, 2021 by Richard Thomas (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Habit

Taken Oct 12, 2019 by Françoise Peyrissat (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2019 by Waldemar Zeja (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 3, 2019 by Daniel Bourget (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1800 by Tela Botanica − Gaël GICQUIAUD (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 18, 2008 by Tela Botanica − Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Encyclopedia of Life (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 8, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Gérard LEVESLIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 18, 2017 by Yoan MARTIN (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken Aug 29, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 29, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 22, 2019 by Perry Perry Rancourt (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 5, 2015 by Tela Botanica − ben (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 28, 2017 by Tara Conler (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/5391862)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:185293-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Bidens tripartita L.)

Specifications

Growth